Kurama takes care of drunk jōnin, takes a long citywide walk and finally breaks down. Naruto doesn't want to go to school, Kakashi makes him a deal. Iruka has the class do taijutsu. Shit happens.
Notes:WHAT UP EVERYBODY! Massive trigger warning for this chapter, the beginning anyway. Emotional breakdowns and such. No mentions of rape. It's more just trauma-related depression, self-loathing, and such. There is some mild self-harm that happens. Well, as mild as any form of self-harm can be.
Mmm beyond that, I got nothing else to say this time. OH! Anytime I've decided when Madara and Sasuke are working together, not one or the other in the forefront, I'm going to call them MadaSasuke! Got the idea from one of you guys saying it and I loved it. So it's now a thing in my story. LOL
ON WITH THE SHOW!
Chapter TextThe next morning Genma could be found snoring splayed over the loveseat on his stomach in a position that looked incredibly uncomfortable. His senbon still in his mouth amazingly enough. Raidō was laying in his back on the couch, snoring louder than Genma, one arm over his eyes, the other flipped over the edge of the couch cushions. And where was Tenzō? In bed, alone.
Kurama has pretended to drink with everyone else. But he hadn't had more than two, maybe three beers. Which only made him happily buzzed. But nowhere near drunk. So when everyone had passed out the sly fox scooped Tenzō up bridal style without issue and put him in bed. He tucked the Anbu in, kissed his forehead because he was feeling like the house mother at that point. Then he went back out to the living room and tucked blankets around both tokubetsu jōnin, kissing their foreheads as well.
He had started picking up the empty bottles, cleaning the apartment as quietly as he could. Everyone was dead to the world from alcohol consumption though, so he probably could have vacuumed and not woken a single one of them. Kurama finally got into Tenzō's room and he paused, just watching the mokuton user sleep.
He frowned, slipping to his knees next to the Anbu's bed. His fingers gently brushing through his hair. "I'm sorry I'm messing up your life. I don't know what I did to cause this reaction in you. But, I promise, for Naruto and your sakes...I'll fix it." He looked down, feeling his eyes line with tears as his eyesight blurred. He touched his cheek, pulling his now wet fingers away. He was crying?
"...not a kid..." Kurama looked up when he heard Tenzō speak. Had the other woken up? No, he was still asleep. He was...talking in his sleep? "...not...a little... kid...anymore..." Tenzō huffed in his sleep. "...stupid Kakashi..." "...stupid civilians..." He turned his head with an upset huff. "...make my own choices..." "...don't need to be coddled..." "...grown man... Anbu..." He rolled onto his side, his back to Kurama. "...not dangerous..." "...won't hurt...lover..."
Kurama sat back on his heels. It hadn't been Kurama's fault at all. Tenzō's problem was he felt like Kakashi was trying to prevent him from growing up and being the responsible adult that he was. Like a little brother trying to force his big brother to see him as an adult when the older brother just keeps treating him like a teenager who needed firm parenting. Sounded like Tenzō also struggled to find someone who wasn't afraid to have sex with him or be alone with him because he was Anbu and a Shinobi. Which was absurd, Tenzō was adorably sweet. Well, not in bed. In bed, he was a dominating force and Kurama supposed that could be extremely intimidating to a civilian or chūnin. But a jōnin should be knowledgeable enough to not fear the Anbu. Then again, Anbu had a lot of stigma around it, being black ops and assassins.
No wonder Tenzō freaked out as he had. His big brother stormed into his apartment, scolded him, lectured him, told him he had done wrong and was wrong, then left with the person he had been assigned to watch and guard. Forcefully terminating a mission given to him by the Hokage. Fuck, Kurama would have been furious too. It was like saying Tenzō was too young, not mature enough, too deadly, and had no self-control. It was insulting.
After that? He snuck out and went for a walk. And he walked almost the entirety of Konoha before making his way from the outskirts back into the main parts of the city, walking for the Academy to hopefully see Naruto before his school day started. He missed the blond terribly and they barely have seen each other. He wanted to properly hug his kit and smile at him, ruffle his hair even. Hell, he even wanted to fist-bump the brat.
Kurama put his arms behind his head as Naruto has done so often. He was eating an Anbu style and color shirt, pants, and his personally dyed black wrappings up his legs to his knees, and from his elbows to his middle knuckles on each finger. His braids were wrapped up into a thick bun on his head, held by an almost neon orange kanzashi. It had orange poppies in a small bunch and three silver tails ending with one poppy blossom on each, the strings lined with little green leaves.
The sun was just beginning to wash the city with early twilight when Kurama made it to the inner part of the outskirts. He's probably just barely make it see Naruto at the pace he was going so he sped up a bit. He actually needed a hug, a lot of shit was going on for him. A coil of desperation released in his chest and he bolted for Kakashi's place. He had no idea where the jōnin lived so he followed his and Naruto's chakra signatures until he was just outside of Naruto's window.
Panting softly, shaky hands slowly, quietly, slid open the window, climbing inside the room. He stepped silently to Naruto's bedside and knelt down, murmuring softly. "Naruto..." No response. "K-kit.." His voice cracked. "Please wake up kit..."
Naruto gave a soft sound, turning his head and opening his eyes to see slitted red. He whispered, "Kurama?"
A weak smile greeted the blond. "Can we.. can I.." He sighed, looking down, his claws curling into the edge of Naruto's bed.
Oh no... Naruto knew this feeling, Kurama was having a panic attack. Naruto scooted to the other side of the bed. "Cuddle..?"
Kurama breathed out a sigh of relief, loving his kit for not forcing him to ask. He crawled into the bed, hugging Naruto tightly to him, nuzzling those bedhead blond locks. Naruto hugged Kurama just as tightly, pressing his face into the fox's chest. The blond tugged the blankets completely over them, hiding them from the world. They fell asleep like that, tightly holding each other. Kurama crying silently into Naruto's hair. Naruto crying softly into Kurama's chest.
When it finally came time for Naruto to go to school Kakashi knocked on his bedroom door. "Naruto, it's time to get up."
Kurama poked his head out from under the blankets, tufts of red hair and two deep red eyes peering over the blankets at the door. It was time for him to go, it seemed. He nudged Naruto awake gently.
"Mmm..awake.." Naruto mumbled, then more clearly. "I'm awake!"
"Alright, breakfast will be ready soon. Get ready for school." Kakashi's footsteps could be heard disappearing down the hall.
Naruto looked up at Kurama, murmuring. "I wish you had come back younger.. so we could live together, and you could go to school with me.."
"I'd make a horrible genin... I make a horrible human." Kurama gave a bitter smile. "I'm just a hindrance, a problem. We should figure out how to seal me back inside you." Kurama's voice cracked again, he blinked back tears.
Blue eyes stared up at Kurama in shock. "Ku...don't talk like that. You're scaring me..."
Kurama smiled weakly, kissing Naruto's forehead. "Sorry, kit... Just being a silly old fox. Get ready for school. Maybe I will see you later. I need to head back anyway, make sure those three are still passed out. Otherwise, I'm going to be in big trouble." He slipped out of the bed, adjusting his clothing and fixing his hair and bun.
Naruto watched him with sadness evident in his expression. And before he knew it, Kurama had slipped out his window and disappeared into the city.
Taking a shuddered breath Naruto sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. Kakashi came back to the door, knocking before opening it slowly. "Are you decent?"
A tiny laugh slipped free. "Yeah.." Naruto stared at his hands in his lap.
Kakashi stepped into the room, noticing scents of moss and warm woods. He looked at Naruto, "Everything alright?" He looked over his body language, the boy was not doing okay. "Have you taken your morning dose yet?"
Naruto twitched. "Not yet.." He mumbled, looking up. "Do I have to go today...? I...don't want to." He looked back down.
"Ah... Naruto... I know it's hard, but you need to push yourself." Kakashi sighed, resting his hand on Naruto's head. "Do you need to talk to Inoichi? Or me?" He knelt down, looking up into Naruto's eyes. "I will listen, and try to understand as best I can."
Naruto's head dropped slightly when the weight of Kakashi's large hand rested on it, his eyes closing. He whimpered softly. "I don't wanna push myself... I'm so tired.. of..pushing myself.." Shoulders slumped. "Will you.." he trailed off, looking away. "Nevermind.. I'll get ready."
Kakashi watched the others face as he spoke, seeing something that left him speechless. Naruto looked like someone who had seen years of war, death, pain, and torture. Dark circles under his eyes, his skin not as tan as it should be. How come Kakashi hadn't noticed this earlier? How good was this kid at hiding how truly fucked up he was? Kakashi's words caught in his throat, so, instead, he grabbed the boy, pulling him down to the floor and into his arms between his crouched legs, curling over the boy protectively. Left arm around Naruto's back, right hand cupping the back of his head.
Naruto whimpered, curling into Kakashi, his fingers curling into the navy blue shinobi shirt. He tucked his legs between them, trying to make himself as small as possible and as hidden in the embrace as possible. He sniffled quietly, whispering. "I'm so tired, Kakashi-san... so tired... all the time. Everything hurts, even my hair hurts.." He laughed weakly, the sound more depressing than cheerful. "I'm always wearing a mask... never get to be...just me." Pressing into the protective hold more he sighs softly. "Gotta maintain loudmouth, number one unpredictable knucklehead... gotta be the Naruto everyone expects..."
One dark grey eye closed, Kakashi resting his chin on top of Naruto's head. He listened to the boy, every single word, sigh, twitch of his body. This small 11-year-old boy had suffered through more in such a brief amount of time that Kakashi was positive had he had to go through what the blond had, he would have followed in his father's footsteps. Pressing his lips together he swallowed tightly, his arms tightening around the small body curled into him.
It was quiet for a long moment, then Kakashi's low voice cut through the stillness. "I will make a deal with you Naruto... Continue taking your medicine, I will walk you to and from school every day for the rest of the week. If you do well in your class and participate, I'll take you camping this weekend. Just you, me, Pakkun, and Shiba." He leaned back, tilting his head to look at Naruto. "How does that sound?"
"R-really..?" Naruto looked up at Kakashi; glossy eyes, tear-streaked whiskered cheeks, dark circles under his eyes, skin too pale for Kakashi's comfort. Kakashi nodded. "Uhn...deal, Kakashi-san.." He looked down, murmuring. "Just us..." He smiled some, the idea of taking off on a camping trip with Kakashi and two of his favorite summons sounded like isolated bliss. He was all for it. He would've asked if Kurama could go too, but he knew Kurama was in his trial phase and couldn't just wandering around everywhere. But that was okay, Kurama needed to deal with humans and learn to be human. The last thing he needed was isolation.
Kakashi eye-smiled. "Good boy." He ruffled spiky blond hair. "Not get ready for school." He slowly let go of the other, giving the boy time to deal with the loss of contact and to stop him if he needed to be held a little longer. He wondered what Minato would say, seeing him like this with his son. Would he be proud? Would he be happy Kakashi finally took him and was giving him the attention he needed?
Both of them stood, Kakashi leaving the room and closing the door behind him. He went back into the kitchen, staring at the meager breakfast he had started. Steamed garlic rice from a rice cooker, prepackaged white tofu miso soup, scrambled eggs, some breakfast sausages. Eh, it was good enough. He shrugged half-heartedly and took the plates and bowls to the small dining table off to the side of his kitchen. He filled two glasses with orange juice, trying to get Naruto off the cow's milk as it wasn't doing him any favors. That and Kakashi hated milk, the flavor was vile.
Kurama made it back to Tenzō's apartment before the three woke up. He was grateful for the small luck he had, slipping into the apartment silently. He made the three jōnin breakfast, covered it in tin foil and stuck it in a warm oven. He wrote a small note out, three times, and stuck to man's forehead before grabbing a couple of towels and disappearing into the guest bathroom to shower.
Turning the water to almost scalding he stripped down and stepped into it. Hissing he closed his eyes, relishing the burns the water brought to his skin. He pressed his hands to the wall of the shower, breathing through the pain. But it wasn't enough, he turned the heat all the way and was forced to bite into his lower lip to keep from making any noises of pain. Tears streaked down his cheeks, empty red eyes staring at the wall.
Back in their original timeline, once the war started, Kurama had no time to pay attention to himself. He had to protect and care for his kit. It wasn't until landing in this time, being alone, and fucking up right and left that everything came crashing into him ruthlessly. He sank to the floor of the shower, hugging his knees and burying his face into his arms and legs. He skin blistered, split, and bled, then healed almost immediately. It repeated over and over again until the water began to cool from being on too long. It went from burning Kurama to the level of needing a hospital, so freezing cold that his fingers, toes, and lips turned blue.
A quiet knock on the door jerked him from his numb, apathetic world. "What?" He ground out, his voice weak and void of anything. He sounded more monotone and empty than Gaara.
"It's...it's almost 10 o'clock, Kurama... you've been in there for almost three hours..." It was Tenzō and he sounded deeply concerned. He got no response and that further worried him. "I'm... I'm coming in."
Opening the door slowly, he peered in, looking at the shower and stopping dead. He saw a violently shivering Kurama, curled up on the floor of the shower, directly under the spray of water, head down, hands hugging his legs painfully tight to himself.
Slowly he moved into the bathroom, closing the door behind him. He had one of those corner showers where the walls were all class, both in the guest bathroom and the main bathroom. The tub was off to the side of the shower.
He sat down, crossing his legs in front of the door to the shower. He had changed from the full ninja outfit he'd slept in, to just a pair of sleep pants.. "Kurama..." His voice was soft and coaxing. He at least wanted to redhead to look at him.
Kurama flinched slightly, then slowly his head turned, one red eye peering at Tenzō through the droplet decorated glass door. Just that one eye made Tenzō's breath catch in growing concern. The swirl of dark emotions was shocking, but it was the matte glaze over the eye, the emptiness drowning out the emotion, that felt like a punch to his gut. Kurama turned his head, hiding that one eye again.
Rubbing his lips together he sat there watching Kurama for a couple minutes before standing. He waited for a total of a half second before opening the door and stepping into the shower. He hissed and jerked back from how nerve piercingly cold the water was. He quickly turned it off and sank down to his knees on the wet floor, in front of Kurama. He could see the curled up man more clearly now, seeing his blue toes and fingers.
Tenzō's hands reached out and shifted in the air around Kurama, trying to figure out how he was going to touch the other. His fingers twitched and slowly rested a hand on the back of Kurama's head. His eyes widened when he felt how truly icy the other's body was.
"What happened...? Did.." He clenched his jaw. "Did I cause this?" Tenzō's hands moved to touch icy fingers, gently gripping his wrists and trying to pull Kurama's arms open. He was shaking so badly that it was causing Tenzō to tremble from the contact.
Kurama let the Anbu do as he pleased, his arms being pulled from his legs, but he made no attempt to move. Tenzō frowned, calling out loudly. "Genma!"
Within moments Genma was in the bathroom, nearly sliding on his ass when he saw the condition Kurama was in. "Fucking hell... how cold was the water?"
"Like ice." Tenzō murmured quietly. "I need you to get the heating blanket I have and plug it in on my bed." He frowned, tilting Kurama's head up, seeing blue lips. "And have Raidō making some tea or hot cocoa...something, hell soup would work. Probably best if it's soup. I don't think he's eaten since the first night he came to my place."
Genma nodded and turned sharply, giving the request to Raidō while he grabbed the heating blanket from Tenzō's bedding closet, disappearing into the master bedroom to set everything up.
"I'm going to pick you up, Kurama..." He hesitated, not knowing what caused this state. He scooped the redhead up like an adult would a child, shivering from the others freezing cold body against his bare chest. Tenzō left the bathroom, turning down the hall to get to his room.
Genma was still in there, laying in the bed where Kurama was going to go. "The fuck are you doing?" Tenzō lifted a brow.
"Using my body heat to start getting it warm while the blanket heats up. Duh." Genma rolled his eyes scooting over in the bed and holding it open for Kurama. "You should probably get in to, so we can start warming him up."
Well, that made sense. It was kind of smart thinking on Genma's part. Raidō came in behind them, holding up a towel. "We put this in the oven for a bit, let me dry him off." Tenzō turned, moving his arms around Kurama to keep holding him while Raidō dried him off, then wrapped his hair in another heated towel. "The soup is cooking, gonna be about fifteen minutes or so." He stepped back, dropping the first towel into the hamper then returning to the kitchen to watch the soup.
Tenzō moved to his bed, tucking Kurama in and sliding in next to him. He and Genma wrapped the icicle-like man between them. Their arms wrapping around Kurama's chest and stomach, legs tangling together. Kurama was shorter than both of them so they could look over his head at each other.
"Any idea why he decided to take a three-hour long ice shower?" Genma murmured, shivering a little from how truly cold the body between them was.
"None." Tenzō frowned, "And he won't talk. Hell, he won't do anything." He sighed, tightening his arms.
Genma frowned as well, looking at Kurama and speaking quietly to him. "Hey, beautiful..." Kurama's eyes flicked up to Genma in acknowledgment but otherwise got nothing in return. Genma looked surprised by the vacant gaze. It was like Kurama had completely shut down. He glanced at Tenzō. "Maybe we should take him to the hospital?"
"I don't think that's a good idea. Kurama seems like the type to hate hospitals..." His right hand slid up to Kurama's left shoulder, caressing a thumb over the cool skin. "Let's just get him warmed up first."
Kiba, Naruto, and Shikamaru stood together, off to the side of the class as they all waited outside for Iruka. The sensei was gathering some tools for today's target practice and taijutsu practice. Naruto was loaded on his medication, leaning against Kiba somewhat as he was a little wobbly on his feet. He had given himself a slightly stronger shot, not to the level Madara had done to him, but just enough to make him blissfully numb.
Poor Sasuke was surrounded by fangirls either fighting over him or demanding his attention. He just stood there, blank expression aside from the tick mark that would pop up on his forehead now and then.
"Can't we just slaughter them all? They are so annoying."
"Shut up."
"I'm not going anywhere. You can ignore me all you want, I will still be here."
"Then make yourself useful and help me with Naruto."
"I've tried, you clearly don't like my methods."
"I want him to like me. Not drug him, strip him, and suck him off."
"You say that, but just remembering it has your dick twitching."
"...fuck off."
"Can't ignore this or me for long, Sasuke."
"I'll get him without your help, fucking lunatic."
"Says the boy holding a mental conversation with a dead guy."
Sasuke scowled, shoving through the group of girls to stand with Naruto and his two velcro boys. Naruto smiled, holding his hand out to Sasuke. The Uchiha lifted a brow, looking at the offered hand and then at the drugged blissed boy. Naruto wiggled his fingers, making a grabby hand. Sasuke chuckled quietly, holding his hand out in front of Naruto's. Naruto grabbed it instantly, weaving their fingers together and tugging the dark haired boy closer. Sasuke blushed some.
Shikamaru yawned from his spot leaning against the fence, barely able to stay awake. "This is so troublesome." He slid down the fence, plopping on the ground, legs stretched out in front him, he closed his eyes.
"Okay, class! We're going to do Taijutsu matches first. The winner has to keep fighting until they lose a round." He stepped up, dropping a bag of kunai, senbon, and shuriken on the ground. "Let's start with..." He looked over the class. "Kiba and Naruto." He grinned.
"What? I don't want to fight Naruto! Besides.. look at him!" He held a hand out in front of the boy leaning fully on him, head on his shoulder. "He's too adorable." Kiba pouted, Shikamaru snorted from his spot behind them. Sasuke nodded in agreement, holding up their hands just enough for Ikura to see.
Iruka laughed mirthfully. "Be that as it may, you two first." He stepped back, motioning to the area he wanted the two boys to fight in.
Kiba sighed, nudging Naruto to stand up completely. "Sorry about this Naru..." He knew he was going to pummel the poor kid. He was too drugged up to fight well.
Naruto whined as he was tugged to the fighting circle, forced to release Sasuke's hand with a pout. Kiba steadied Naruto in the circle before stepping back, looking at Iruka like he was a sadistic jerk. Akamaru wasn't happy with this either.
"Begin," Iruka stated.
Naruto was looking at Sasuke, still pouting and giving a grabby hand motion at him. Sasuke was blushing in response. Kiba ran at Naruto and before anyone could register what happened, Kiba was flat on his back with the wind knocked from him, Akamaru slide over the circle's line, laying on his side. Naruto was crouched over Kiba, hands still on the other boy's arm from having flipped him then used his foot to slam him into the ground.
Everyone stood in silent awe.
"Na-naruto wins round 1!" Iruka stuttered out.
Naruto stood up, helping Kiba to his feet and smiling lazily. "Maa~!" He shrugged, swaying on his feet from the drugs.
Kiba limped off to the side, sinking down next to Shikamaru. "...I didn't even see him move... shit... I didn't even hear him move..."
Shikamaru looked at him. "He kicked your ass in one move, dude. While high off his ass." He laughed, leaning his head back, closing his eyes.
Kiba grumped, kicking Shikamaru's leg half-heartedly.
"Shikamaru versus Naruto." Iruka grinned at the lazy Nara when dark eyes snapped open and looked at him in disbelief.
"I forfeit," Shikamaru muttered.
"Not allowed. Come on Shikamaru." Iruka smiled innocently. It was about time someone flattened the Nara. Maybe it'd motivate him a little.
Naruto wobbled in a step as he turned to look at Shikamaru. "Maa...Shika...don't hurt me, kay?" He giggled, smiling bashfully.
"Oi, don't be cute...you troublesome blond," Shikamaru grumbled, pushing himself up and moving into position in the circle.
"Begin."
Neither moved. Naruto stared dreamily at Shikamaru, smiling lazily. "I wanna snuggle.." He murmured.
Shikamaru's cheeks lit up a bright pink. "Na..Naru! Shush!" The class went into a fit of giggles.
Naruto whined and stomped his foot. "Shika! I wanna snuggle!"
Shikamaru looked mortified, the blush deepening as he lowered his head. "Sweet Sage Naru..." He muttered. "Win this match against me and we'll snuggle... okay?"
Naruto cheered with a fist pump into the air. And quicker than a lightning flash he attacked Shikamaru, slamming the other right into Iruka, knocking them both back and down several feet.
"Did I win?" The blond looked around, swaying.
Kiba busted out laughing, pointing at Shikamaru's dazed and baffled sprawled form over Iruka. Iruka was flat on his back, sprawled out like a starfish.
"I think you won, Naru," Sasuke said quietly. "Good job."
Naruto beamed. "Thanks, Sasu-kun!"
Sasuke blushed furiously, having never gotten a nickname from the smaller boy.
Shikamaru crawled, practically dragged himself, across the ground back over to the fence with a groan. "I think he broke me..." He whimpered softly, laying on the ground motionless.
Iruka slowly pushed himself back to standing, knowing he was going to have several bruises from the bony Nara. "L-let's have Chōji versus Naruto.." He stumbled, his left knee buckling but he caught himself, stepping forward.
"No way in Sage am I going against him." Chōji piped up around a mouthful of chips. Kiba, Shikamaru, and Sasuke laughed.
Iruka sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Sorry Chōji, I forgot." He smiled gently, remembering the young Akimichi refused to fight friends. "How about Shino versus Naruto?"
Shino blinked behind his sunglasses and looked at Naruto. "...if you insist. I'll be sending you my medical bill." The class roared with laughter.
Shino stepped into the circle, crouching down into a defensive position. "If you do not mind, please do not break anything, Naruto-kun."
Naruto giggled and gave a Gai approved thumbs up. "No promises!" Shino sweatdropped.
"Begin." Iruka wanted some ice...
Naruto stood there, staring at Shino. He looked like he was about to fall asleep, hands in his pockets, shoulders rolled forward. He looked like a stiff breeze would knock him on his ass. Shino narrowed his eyes, he sucked at taijutsu, much as Shikamaru did. Working his jaw he kept waiting for Naruto to attack but the blond didn't move, just kept staring half-lidded at him.
Muttering under his breath Shino charged forward, best to get it over with. Every punch or kick he dealt was blocked easily, but he wasn't forced back or hurt. It went on like this for about a minute before Naruto twisted Shino's arm behind his back high enough to strain the joints, tendons, ligaments, and muscles. Shino moaned, falling to his knees. Naruto looked at Iruka, that half-lidded gaze gone and replaced with the steeliness of a war veteran Shinobi.
Iruka stared, "U-uh.. Naruto...wins." He stuttered out. Shino was released from the hold, rubbing his arm as he walked away.
Naruto assumed his barely awake state once more. Everyone just stared. "Le-let's shake it up a bit... Ino versus Naruto."
"WHAT!?" Ino screeched, pointing at Naruto. "He's insane! He'll kill me!"
Naruto regarded her with a bored stare, slowly blinking as a yawn forced its way out of him.
"I'll do it." Sakura piped up, stepping forward while cracking her knuckles.
Iruka lifted a brow at the pink-haired girl. "Alright... Sakura versus Naruto." He waited for her to enter the circle. "Begin."
Naruto suddenly became very fascinated with his cuticle situation, looking at his nails with a tilt of his head. He never noticed, but his nails came to a subtle point just past the pads of his fingers. He wondered if that was because of the chakra merging. He sidestepped a roundhouse kick from Sakura, turning smoothly as she aimed a punched for his side. Hm, he had dirt under his nails.
He flipped over her when she tried to swipe his legs from under him. He landed behind her and tapped her shoulder. She spun around and he grinned cruelly, serving one perfectly aimed punch to her gut.
Naruto pulled his hand back with an internal sick sort of justice and pleasure, she dropped to the ground coughing and gagging a little. He stepped back, looking at Iruka.
"Naruto wins...again." Iruka stared.
Normally they didn't do contact taijutsu, but today was different. And it still seemed like Naruto was holding back and not hitting even a fraction as hard as he could. His muscles barely flexed. He was wearing a sleeveless dark grey skintight Anbu style shirt with a long-sleeved mesh shirt underneath, Anbu style black pants wrapped from the knee down disappearing into his boots, and his newly trademark combat boots that seemed to come in multiple colors. Today's boots were blood red. So, with how tight his clothing was and the lack of sleeves showed his softly defined muscles. And they barely twitched with each fight.
"Ino versus Naruto." Iruka looked at Ino. She stared back at him, motioning to the pink-haired girl was had finally staggered out of the circle. He lifted a brow, looking at her pointedly.
Ino sighed, hanging her head as she went into the circle. She looked up at an overly calm Naruto. "Go easy on me, yeah?" She whimpered, sliding into a Yamanaka style defensive position. Her clan didn't do taijutsu very often, but they did have a defense style.
Naruto watched her enter the circle and sighed. "Why does everyone keep saying shit like that?" He grumped, pouting at Sasuke who chuckled and shrugged.
"Begin."
Ino clenched her jaw, narrowing her eyes. Once again, Naruto didn't move, just looked right into Ino's eyes. A minute went by, then another, and another without any movement from either party.
"This is a taijutsu match, guys. You have to actually fight." Iruka sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Ino scowled and glared at Naruto. "Well he's not attacking!"
Naruto blinked, tilting his head like a confused puppy. "Neither are you."
"FINE! Shintenshin no Jutsu!" Her hands shot out as the technique activated and her body dropped.
But Naruto wasn't standing where he had been anymore. He was standing next to Ino, catching her body before he dropped to the ground. "She'll be back in a few minutes." He laid her down gently by Sakura.
Iruka sighed, throwing his hands up. "Naruto wins." He knit his brow, before eyeing Sasuke. he was going to put Hinata up against Naruto, but he knew that'd end before it even began because she'd likely faint at just having her name said in the same sentence as Naruto's. "Sasuke versus Naruto."
Naruto smiled big. "Sasu-kun! Come at me!" He giggled, holding his arms open. Kiba and Shikamaru laughed. Shikamaru finally upright again, leaning back against the fence.
Sasuke rolled his eyes, smiling to himself as he walked into the circle, dropping into an Uchiha fighting stance. "I always win, Naru-chan."
Naruto stuck his tongue out. "Not this time, Sasu-kun." He grinned back, sliding into his fighting stance from his own taijutsu style.
Iruka lifted a brow, Naruto was suddenly serious. Interesting. "Begin."
They stared at each other before they both launched forward. It wasn't the blur of motion like they would be when Sasuke got older, so Naruto slowed down enough to seem like they were evenly matched. Several minutes went by until Madara was getting irritated with Sasuke's inability to take down Naruto, knowing there were nearly two decades of experience in Naruto's advantage.
"Move, I'll show you how it's done."
"Shut up! I can do this!"
"It's been five minutes and you're beginning to tire. He will beat you. He's holding back, can't you tell? He was moving much faster than this with everyone else."
Sasuke scowled. "I'm not giving you total control." The mental blocks fell away and Madara surged forward, sharing the forefront with Sasuke. The young Uchiha felt his body flood with power and shuddered from it. Fuck, he'd forgotten what Madara's strength felt like. It was...addictive.
Sasuke's movements sped up drastically, Naruto matching it perfectly. MadaSasuke growled, catching Naruto in the side with a sharply placed jab. Naruto stumbled, hissing in pain, kicking Sasuke in the leg, having aimed for his knee but just barely missing it. MadaSasuke grabbed the blond's shoulders, flipping into a handstand on the other's shoulders before spinning, dropping their feet into the others back and using it as a springboard.
But just as their feet left Naruto's back, he had somehow managed to appear in front of them, grabbing one ankle and slamming them into the ground. MadaSasuke twisted, wrapping their other leg around Naruto's arm and as they hit the dirt, they brought Naruto down with them. Naruto hissed in pain, feeling the joint in his elbow strain. His hand trying to pull away but getting a palm full of MadaSasuke's crotch. Naruto blushed brightly, yanking his arm away fast and flipping into the air, his right leg shooting out to land a slammed heel into MadaSasuke's chest.
MadaSasuke rolled away, a small crater forming where Naruto's foot hit. MadaSasuke launched forward, slamming Naruto into the ground on his back. Their hips between the blond's legs and pressed against Naruto's. They hover over the boy, their faces inches apart as they both panted heavily. Midnight black staring into oceanic blue, their hot breaths mingling.
The world around them melted away, no sounds penetrating the little world they were now in. Sasuke having shoved Madara back again, mental blocks firmly in place. He swallowed thickly, his eyes flicking down to Naruto's lips then back up. His hands resting on either side of Naruto's head he slowly began to lower. Their lips nearing each other slowly, Naruto's cheeks flushing pink, eyes lidding themselves as his head started to tilt up.
Naruto was suddenly alone on the ground, Sasuke gone. He looked around in panic, only to see Kakashi holding Sasuke in the air by the back of his shirt.
"I thought I would come by for lunch." Kakashi lifted a brow, looking at Iruka who hadn't moved to split the boys up. He sat Sasuke on his feet. The Uchiha blushed furiously, looking at the ground.
Iruka just stood there in shocked silence. He couldn't believe that his cute little students were hormonal or hitting puberty. So he was in denial that Sasuke had been about to kiss Naruto and that Naruto had begun leaning into the anticipated kiss.
Clearing his throat, "Alright everyone! Lunchtime!" Iruka spun on his heel, quickly going back into the school.
Kiba and Shikamaru had sprung to their feet the moment they realized what had been about to happen. Kakashi had just gotten to the two nearly kissing boys before they had. Kiba looked ready to shred Sasuke where he stood. Shikamaru looked like he wanted to use Kage Nui no Jutsu on the Uchiha and then use said shadows to literally tear him limb from limb.
Kakashi cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "Naruto, would you like to have ramen for lunch?"
Naruto leapt up from the ground and bounced. "Definitely!" Kiba and Shikamaru instantly moved to stand on either side of him protectively and possessively. He beamed at them, happy they would be coming along. "Sasu-kun! Come with us. You never come with us." He pouted.
Sasuke looked up and blinked. "Never come with you...? I...didn't realize I was invited those times.." He stared in disbelief.
"Pfft! Dobe." Naruto grinned wide. "You're always invited. Goes without saying. Come on!" He nodded his head in the direction of Ichiraku's.
"Teme.." Sasuke muttered, grinning back. The switch of their old nicknames highly amusing to them. He stepped forward, Kakashi walking next to Sasuke, making the boy hesitate a bit, glancing up at his future sensei.
Kakashi looked down at him. "Sasuke." He said, acknowledging the boy. He rested a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it firmly in an unspoken warning to not try that again.
Naruto waited for them to get close and took up position next to Kakashi, smiling brightly up at him. "Kakashi-nii I beat everyone in taijutsu!" He chirped happily. Then blinked horror. "Oh! I...shit.. no.. I didn't.. I'm so sorry Kakashi-san!" He stopped and bowed deeply for having used such an informal, intimate honorific for Kakashi. Even if the silver-haired man was basically his adoptive brother.
Kakashi had stopped walking as well, but not from an offense, from shock. He stared down at the bowed blond before him. The title had caused a warmth to spread in his chest and he couldn't stop himself from genuinely smiling. "It's alright Naruto-kun." He touched the back of the bowed head. "You can call me that as much as you want." He encouraged, wanting to hear it again.
Naruto snapped up in awe, staring up at Kakashi as his eyes welled with tears. "Re-really..?" Kakashi nodded. "Ah! KAKASHI-NI!" He clung to the jōnin, sobbing softly.
Kakashi laughed, hugging Naruto back. "Let's get ramen, otōto-kun." Naruto sobbed loudly when he was called little brother, clinging tighter to Kakashi. Kakashi sighed, smiling. "Hey.. stop that. I'm not going anywhere." Naruto's sobs lessened to sniffles and he looked up. "Everyone's waiting." He nodded to the three boys off to the side waiting.
Naruto looked back at Shikamaru, Kiba, and Sasuke. Blushing he broke away from Kakashi, scratching the back of his head with a nervous laugh. He jogged up to the three, smiling wide. Kakashi behind them as they all headed for Ichiraku's.
A/N: I ended on a cute note! Much better than an awful cliffhanger, right? Right? o.o
Everyone understand Tenzō's earlier behavior now? I hope you do at least a little bit. It's a mix of a life as a shinobi, an Anbu, and Kakashi being an insufferable older brother. It was like all that crap had just layered, and stacked inside of him until Kakashi was the last straw and he just sorta...SNAPPED briefly.